What Have Parks Done for You Lately? Frisco 3 - Resiliency Please silence your cell phone
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Institute of Urban Studies Panel Brian Guenzel: Director Alan Klein: Assistant Director Rhonda Fields: Special Programs Coordinator
Institute of Urban Studies
Brazoria Water Park Feasibility Study September 2012
Institute of Urban Studies Changing Nature of Parks Park Trends Building Healthy Communities Future Opportunities
Changing Nature of Parks Holistic :
Characterized by comprehension of the parts of something as intimately interconnected and explicable only by reference to the whole.
New York Central Park
SMU Dallas Texas
Park Trends • Environmental Trends • Social/Cultural Trends • Economic Trends • Amenities and Use Trends
Environmental Trends Benefits
Trends • Interconnected system • Trails along riparian corridors • Incorporate green and blue infrastructure • Beautification of waterways • Use of native plants • Parks and natural parkways that shape urban form and buffer incompatible uses
• Mitigate climate, air, and water pollution impacts • Create wildlife corridors • Preserve ecological functions • Reduce public costs for storm water management, flood control, transportation • Reduce expensive infrastructure, walls and enforced zoning.
HOLISTIC THINKING
Social and Cultural Trends Trends
Benefits
• Outdoor Learning and Nature Activities • Classes for all ages and abilities • Venues for music, weddings, and festivals • Individual and team sports and programing • Multi-use, Multi-function • Open places to create and display art
• Reconnect to Nature • Promote sense of wellbeing • Promote comfortable interactions between differing user groups • Create a sense of place and community “Third Place” • Promotes the arts in all forms • Improves learning
HOLISTIC THINKING
Economic Trends Parks and Recreation create beneficial direct and indirect effects
Kaboom Town, Addison, TX
Economic Trends Parks and Open Space positively affect property values
Farmers Branch, TX
Klyde Warren Park, Dallas, TX
UTA Community Garden, Arlington, TX
Economic Trends “Another top quality-of-life concern is outdoor recreation, especially for companies that need highly specialized or cutting-edge talent.�1
Vitruvian Park, Addison, TX
North Richland Hills Recreation Center
Weil (Dec/Jan 09)
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Economic Trends Parks, Recreation, and Open Space can promote tourism.
Big League Dreams, Mansfield, TX
Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail, Austin, TX
Hawaiian Falls, Garland, TX
Amenities and Use
Overall Increasing Amenities and Use Trends 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0
http://www.rff.org/RFF/Documents/RFF-BCK-ORRG_UrbanSurvey.pdf Resources for the Future 2009 Survey of Park Directors
Park Trends
Amenity and Use Trends
Amenity and Use Trends Regionally Interconnected Environmental and Outdoor Education On and Off Street Trails Focus on Green Infrastructure and Linear Parks Natural area preservation All Abilities Parks Native Plants Dog Parks Non-polluting maintenance programs Skate Parks Natural Areas and Green Infrastructure Splash Parks Private Park Ownership Community Gardens Intense Park Programming Sports Fields Multi-use and Shared Use Facilities Places for Displaying and Creating Community Art Exercise/Fitness Rooms Public Centers
From Goals of Various mPROS
Building Healthy Communities
Social Bridge FWISD Community Garden
Social Bridge NRH Dog Park
Inner City Revitalization Ft Worth Near Southside
Long-term health benefits: River Legacy Arlington
Healthy Food Choices: Farmers Markets
http://www.nrpa.org/uploadedFiles/nrpaorg/Grants_and_Partners/Recreation_and_Health/Resources/Case_Studies/Healthy-Communities-SuccessStories.pdf
Future Opportunities • Creative ways to engage the public in the planning, design, programming, maintenance, and funding • More Connected green and blue infrastructure • Regionally integrated park systems and transportation networks
DISCUSSION